A/N:
HuNkYcHuNkYmOnKeY97030 - I know, what was she thinking? Hello? Hot Elf who just so happens to have confessed his love to you! I know what I would have done in that situation. ;)
Coquettish Siren - Ah, I don't know if I have a good explanation other than, well, I guess she doesn't like him! Legolas is gonna have to try a little harder to get where he wants to go...
brownie24 - I know, I know... I can't believe she reacted that way. Silly Elves! But then, they are supposed to be best friends... she just had no idea he felt as strongly as he does.
Also, I wanted to say I haven't gotten as many reviews for this last chapter as usual -- hopefully the title change didn't throw everyone off? Either way, I hope you guys make it back here alright and keep reading and reviewing! Well, onward.
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"Teaching?" I screamed angrily at Thranduil, who was sitting behind his desk with a rather amused smirk curving his lips. It was the middle of the day and the sunlight was streaming into the room through the windows, casting shadows on Thranduil's face. He was lucky, because if I had been able to see the extent to which he was grinning I might have chucked a dagger at him.
"I'm afraid Legolas has forbid me to let you back on patrol," he answered, shrugging his broad shoulders slightly. I could tell this battle would not be an easy one, and I was already losing. The Prince and the King were both against me. I was fuming.
"Well, Thranduil, you can just tell Prince Legolas that I absolutely refuse to teach Elflings and I will go back on the patrol whether he likes it or not!" I yelled, crossing my arms in front of my chest and feeling my face turn redder with each maddening second. Thranduil seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much at my expense, just like his son had been last night. I winced at the thought of the previous night's engagements, and cursed myself for not being able to notice when emotions were hurtled my direction. I should have known better than to sleep in his bed, especially naked - I resisted the urge to hit myself on the forehead with my palm as I glared at a smiling Thranduil.
After a moment or two, he shook his head and wet his lips with his tongue before responding carefully. "If Legolas does not want you on patrol, Laina, then I cannot allow it." I continued to glare at him, momentarily wishing a horrible injury upon both him and his idiot of a son.
"Where is he?" I asked through gritted teeth. Thranduil chuckled, his dark blonde mane rippling to his shoulders regally. If glares were arrows Thranduil would have been punctured a million times over. I waited for his answer, but none came, so I repeated, "Where is he, Thranduil?" I could feel my voice rising but was unable to stop it. I knew it was highly inappropriate for me to be yelling at the King, but he was being an insufferable dolt!
Thranduil's smile turned cold after a moment's time, and his voice became suddenly harsh. "Legolas is awaiting your presence in the foyer. He has gathered a group of young Elves who are in need of learning what you know about healing," Thranduil's tone was resolute. "He will take you to the main supply room where desks have been set up, and you should be able to find all the supplies you need in order to train them," he explained as if I had enthusiastically taken the job and was awaiting instruction. I merely continued to stare daggers at him as he talked. "Of course, it would be best for them to train on actual subjects, but as they are currently unskilled at healing, a few Elves have elected themselves to be your wounded," Thranduil finished. Elves had actually volunteered to play dead for this stupid job? How important was this healing business?
"Expecting a lot of wounds sometime soon?" I asked, deciding not to push my luck further and instead to take up my issues with his son.
"Of course we like to expect the worst," Thranduil replied, his mood lightening and a smile playing on his lips again. "With the Shadow growing and Orcs in our wood multiplying, I am certain you see the foresight in training healers. Many others have been recruited to teach healing classes, too, so you will not be the only one," the King said, placing his strong hands upon his desk and hoisting himself from his chair. He walked around the desk to me, gently laying one of his hands on my right shoulder. His hand was heavier than I expected and I wanted to be childish and shrug it off, still fuming, but instead I managed a smile and took my leave of Thranduil. "Good luck," he said a bit under his breath as I exited.
I marched down the stairs toward the foyer, seeing a crowd of Elflings standing around Legolas, asking him questions about their new teacher. He was smiling down at them, and the dark-haired Elfling he was holding in his arms was busy tangling her hands in his golden hair and giggling every time he reprimanded her. To anyone else at this moment, the scene before me would have been endearing. I wanted to stick an arrow in his foot.
"Ah, here she is!" Legolas said to the group of children, putting down the one in his arms. Instead of moving forward like the rest, she clung to his hand and whimpered. He knelt down beside her, whispering something in her ear that caused her to giggle and release his hand, joining the others in front of me.
"You are going to teach us to help the dying people?" a little Elf asked me, turning his big, shining, blue eyes up to my face. He had hair golden to match Legolas' and the voice to melt any heart. I avoided Legolas' gaze as I looked down at the group of curious little Elflings.
"That's the general idea," I answered, "and what is your name?"
"Oryan," he answered, eyes twinkling.
"Hello Oryan, my name is Laina," I replied, still avoiding Legolas' intent stare. I could feel his eyes on me, but was determined not to look. I surveyed the rest of the crowd and was unsure of what to say, but of course, Legolas saved me from saying anything at all.
"Well, better show you to your new classroom," Legolas said to the group rather than to me, but his eyes were still on me as he began to lead us downstairs and down one of the stone corridors that branched from the main area. I recognized the doors down this corridor at once as places Legolas, Malian, and I used to hide when we played together so many years ago. I thought I could hear the ringing laughter of a fifteen-year-old Legolas, but I shook it out of my head and followed Legolas to the third supply room door on the left.
He opened the door, turning back to allow us all to enter. This room was much larger than the other supply rooms indeed, and desks had been set up. A few Elves around my age were milling about, talking amongst themselves when we entered. I supposed these were the brave volunteers. They introduced themselves as Amythaeon, Jashan, Phlegon, and Edrahil, who I noticed had rather intense green eyes. They all bowed to Legolas as they introduced themselves.
"I guess this is where I take your leave," Legolas said, finally turning to me. It was the first thing he had actually said to me since last night.
"Actually, I need a word with you," I replied bravely, thinking it better to get this out now, knowing I would eventually have to. Legolas swallowed with difficulty, obviously not expecting my forward approach, but he followed me willingly outside of the door and back into the hallway. "I hope you don't expect me to stay away from patrol for long," I warned under my breath. Legolas looked at me reproachfully.
"You're not going back on duty," Legolas replied stiffly.
"Yes I am," I responded quickly, so closely coming to allowing my voice to rise that it came out in a hoarse whisper. "Legolas, you can't stop me from helping our people," I insisted.
"Our people? With all due respect, the last time I checked, you were not a Princess of Mirkwood, nor a Queen, and they are my people that I need to protect. You are one of those people," Legolas responded, trying his best to keep his personal concern for me out of his voice. "And you are helping them by giving them healers," he finished, pointing authoritatively back inside the classroom. I raised an incredulous eyebrow.
"Don't proceed to give me orders with a point of your finger," I admonished. "I am not one of your inferiors you can just wave away." I was not only angered by his lack of compassion, but also hurt that he was treating me like his horses. At this, the determination on his face was etched away and he softened, his arm sinking back to his side as he took a step toward me.
"I'm sorry, Laina, I didn't mean…" he began, reaching to place a daunting hand on my cheek, but I moved in time.
"Stop it, Leaf!" I insisted, stomping my foot in frustration. His act of superiority had infuriated me, but this sudden act of love disgusted me all over again.
"Laina, I just don't want you to be hurt again. If something happened to you--"
"Leaf, that's quite enough!" I said, taking another step back as he had moved forward again. I had hoped we would circumvent this discussion of last night, but I guessed that when the dam started to break, it really became a waterfall. Legolas' eyes were full of longing and hurt, which I promptly ignored. "I'll teach for now, but by Ilúvatar, stop looking at me like that," I asserted, ignoring his grimace and reentering the classroom, slamming the door behind me before he had a chance to reply.
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The day's lesson did not go badly. In fact, I had gotten most of the Elflings' names down by the end, and all of them had grown quite fond of at least one of the volunteers. I had taught them simple cures that day, for the smallest of injuries. I had entertained their questions, and all-in-all, was rather enjoying myself in their company. I had been in the middle of demonstrating the uses of athelas when a tentative knock came at the door.
"Come in!" I called, hoping it was not a certain golden-tressed, lovesick moron, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a strong, sawdust-blonde-headed Elf stride into the room instead. "Féoras!" I exclaimed, momentarily forgetting my surroundings and hurrying over to hug him. A few of the girls giggled at the sight.
"How is everything?" Féoras asked, inspecting the room with his grey eyes. He smiled as his gaze turned back toward me.
"Great," I grinned in return.
"Just thought I'd check in. I heard about the commotion with King Thranduil. Heard you yelled that you refused to teach," Féoras added in a whisper, winking. It was the most cheek he had ever shown. I looked down at my feet quickly, a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, that," I said, studying the floor. Féoras walked over to me, placing one finger beneath my chin and raising my face toward his. More giggles ensued.
"I for one am glad Prince Legolas will not allow you back on patrol, though I know you hate it," Féoras said, ignoring the crowd of Elflings around us, all of whom were staring intently at the handsome Elf before me. "You do understand it is because Prince Legolas loves you?" I nearly choked on my breath.
"What?" I managed, coughing.
"You're his best friend, he cares a lot about you," Féoras replied solemnly, and I realized he was not hinting at anything deeper than a bond of friendship, so I regained my normal composure and, brushing off the conversation, stood on the tips of my toes, planting a smooth kiss on his cheek.
"I understand," I said rather grudgingly, knowing that he was in fact the one who did not fully understand.
"I'll let you get back to your class then," Féoras said, leaning in and making to do something a bit inappropriate for the age group, so I turned my head, landing his lips on my cheek. He smiled, turning at once to leave.
"Who was that?" a curious brown-eyed, blonde-haired Elfling named Jarthíl inquired.
"His name is Féoras," I replied, smiling after him. Jarthíl giggled behind her small hand, looking up at me as if she knew a secret only adults were supposed to be in on. I looked down at her with raised eyebrows before taking her hand and leading her back to her seat, continuing the lesson in a much better mood than I had been in when it had begun.